Why are Minneapolis area mansions so bland? (Minnetonka, Jasper: homes, neighborhoods)

[Thegonagle]

It's hard to find a Minneapolis mansion if you're looking in Orono. Truth be told, I'm not sure I could even point to Orono on a map.

In Minneapolis, there are some spectacular homes that are anything but bland, especially near Lake of the Isles. Ever been there?

[Slig]

That is what I was suggesting to him before. The problem is that those homes range from $1-5 million and he was looking in the $10-50 million range. From what I understand Orono makes up the north shore of Lake Minnetonka over by Wayzata. Personally I would never want to live way out there but to each his own I guess.

[lakal]

Even if it was to come to more "dramatic" styles...I think more would be Italianate than Baroque, from what I've noticed...

[Camden Northsider]

Hey acstar, here's some Lake Minnetonka homes you might be interested in:


(the owners of this one ship in a fresh batch of palm trees every spring)

[jasper1372]

One comment I've always made that I think has bearing on this subject is that homes in Minnesota lack adequate landscaping.

Looking around Minnesota, the nicest landscaping you're likely to see is below the average of most other places. We just don't seem to feel the need, or the pride to make sure our homes have curb appeal. You're about as likely to see a wood pile in the front yard or a fuel oil tank leaning against the side of the house as any real attempt at landscapping. A couple shurbs and cutting the weeds just doesn't add anything to the beauty of the home.

I know the OP mentioned specifically Scottsdale. I've been there and he is correct in his observation. We drive around and just marvel at the beauty of the landscaping. Even the center islands of the roads are landscapped. Like you'll ever see that here. Here in Minnesota you're luckey if they even mow the weeds growing in the median once a year or so.

My wife and I have had endless conversations as to why our friends and neighbors in Minnesota have such little regard for adding curb appeal to their homes. We're really the odd people in our neighborhood I guess...but we enjoy it and others always make positive comments so that keeps us going.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by jasper1372

One comment I've always made that I think has bearing on this subject is that homes in Minnesota lack adequate landscaping.

The snow destroys it each winter, so why bother?

I noticed after moving to the Atlanta suburbs that there's a lot more landscaping going on down here, but it remains relatively untouched all year long.

[jasper1372]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

The snow destroys it each winter, so why bother?

I noticed after moving to the Atlanta suburbs that there's a lot more landscaping going on down here, but it remains relatively untouched all year long.

Yes I do understand that you're saying....but if you pick the right shrubs, trees, plants etc..., you can make it work. We do have the challenge of snow, but that shouldn't stop us at least getting decent grass in the yard and putting in some lawn edging around the edge, using colored bark chips for mulch in the flower/shrub beds etc...

It just seems to me that most just don't care. We tried to find a local company who would design our landscaping when we first built the house and everyone we asked looked at us like we were from Mars...you know, the blank look. We finally plotted it out ourselves on a huge piece of paper.

I do understand how the medians between roadways can be a challenge, but for christs sake at least mow them once a month and trim around the signs and stop lights in the median. Seeing 2 foot high grass growing around the signs on the median is just looks so aweful. If they can tend to real landscaping down south we should at least be able to mow them which I would think be pretty easy. What do all the snow plow drivers do all summer ?

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by jasper1372

Yes I do understand that you're saying....but if you pick the right shrubs, trees, plants etc..., you can make it work. We do have the challenge of snow, but that shouldn't stop us at least getting decent grass in the yard and putting in some lawn edging around the edge, using colored bark chips for mulch in the flower/shrub beds etc...

Detailed landscaping isn't part of the culture of the Twin Cities, really. You see that in warmer climates, yes, and you'll see it in some business parks, but I for one see it as a waste of time and money.

It just seems to me that most just don't care.

Yes, I suspect that's accurate.

We tried to find a local company who would design our landscaping when we first built the house and everyone we asked looked at us like we were from Mars...you know, the blank look. We finally plotted it out ourselves on a huge piece of paper.

Welcome to a different part of the country.

I do understand how the medians between roadways can be a challenge, but for christs sake at least mow them once a month and trim around the signs and stop lights in the median. Seeing 2 foot high grass growing around the signs on the median is just looks so aweful. If they can tend to real landscaping down south we should at least be able to mow them which I would think be pretty easy. What do all the snow plow drivers do all summer ?

I know there is a movement to try to establish native grasses in various places including roadside medians and right of ways, so I suspect you'll see more and more areas along roadsides in MN which aren't regularly mowed.

There's a lot more to life than mowed grass and precisely planted little bushes and flowers, or so I would think...

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by jasper1372

One comment I've always made that I think has bearing on this subject is that homes in Minnesota lack adequate landscaping.

Looking around Minnesota, the nicest landscaping you're likely to see is below the average of most other places. We just don't seem to feel the need, or the pride to make sure our homes have curb appeal. You're about as likely to see a wood pile in the front yard or a fuel oil tank leaning against the side of the house as any real attempt at landscapping. A couple shurbs and cutting the weeds just doesn't add anything to the beauty of the home.

I know the OP mentioned specifically Scottsdale. I've been there and he is correct in his observation. We drive around and just marvel at the beauty of the landscaping. Even the center islands of the roads are landscapped. Like you'll ever see that here. Here in Minnesota you're luckey if they even mow the weeds growing in the median once a year or so.

My wife and I have had endless conversations as to why our friends and neighbors in Minnesota have such little regard for adding curb appeal to their homes. We're really the odd people in our neighborhood I guess...but we enjoy it and others always make positive comments so that keeps us going.

I think it is probably a stretch to compare Scottsdale to most places in MN or anywhere for that matter. It would be on par with Edina, North Oaks etc. Drive through Mesa and tell me they have nice yards. Probably the case that when you travel somewhere, you are going to notice above average. If not, what is the point of going anywhere?

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by jasper1372

Yes I do understand that you're saying....but if you pick the right shrubs, trees, plants etc..., you can make it work. We do have the challenge of snow, but that shouldn't stop us at least getting decent grass in the yard and putting in some lawn edging around the edge, using colored bark chips for mulch in the flower/shrub beds etc...

It just seems to me that most just don't care. We tried to find a local company who would design our landscaping when we first built the house and everyone we asked looked at us like we were from Mars...you know, the blank look. We finally plotted it out ourselves on a huge piece of paper.

I do understand how the medians between roadways can be a challenge, but for christs sake at least mow them once a month and trim around the signs and stop lights in the median. Seeing 2 foot high grass growing around the signs on the median is just looks so aweful. If they can tend to real landscaping down south we should at least be able to mow them which I would think be pretty easy. What do all the snow plow drivers do all summer ?

Where do you live that people don't have landscaped yards? Almost every house on our block has exactly what you outlined-edging, bark (or rock) with interesting arrangements. No, they aren't fancy but they are certainly nicer looking then anything I have seen in Arizona. Here is one example from my back yard: